DHS Special Events Program and Support Act

Summary

Establishes a DHS special events program to assess threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences for pre-planned special events that are not designated National Special Security Events. The program can provide voluntary event risk ratings and, at the request of Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials, offer security and situational awareness support using a risk-based methodology with expedited review and reassessment options. Requires annual reporting to congressional homeland security committees on submissions, ratings, coordination, and reassessments, periodic program reviews every five years, and a one-year coordinated research and development effort on mass-gathering technologies and techniques, carried out consistent with constitutional protections and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties safeguards.

• Creates a DHS program to rate security risks for pre-planned special events not designated as National Special Security Events.
• Allows Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials to voluntarily request risk ratings and DHS support.
• Requires use of a risk-based methodology with expedited review and reassessment procedures.
• Mandates annual reports to congressional homeland security committees describing submissions, ratings, coordination, and reassessments.
• Requires a program assessment every five years and a one-year R&D effort on mass-gathering technologies coordinated with DHS science leadership.
• Directs R&D and program activities to be consistent with constitutional protections and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
• Does not appropriate funds or impose mandatory duties on subnational governments to request DHS assistance.
• Adds the new program to the Homeland Security Act table of contents.